SANTO DOMINGO. - The cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez urged the country’s military to defend its sovereignty by ridding it of drug trafficking. “It’s necessary to try fighting drug-traffickers on their own turf without wavering, it’s necessary to continue insisting that these people cannot have the right to be anywhere the world."

In a mass to mark the Founding Father Matías Ramon Mella’s birthday and the founding of the Armed Forces, the prelate said in many people have wavered in the war against drugs and “have ganged up with them, which is a true shame."

Lopez Rodriguez said people must be aware of what drug-traffic king’s danger means for humanity, describing them as an army of brigands and thugs ready to do anything. "I hope our Armed Forces have the capacity to confront this type of threat which could ruin not only the sovereignty, but the Dominican nation’s very health."

"We ask that all the members of the Armed Forces, ask the Lord to give them capacity, valor, physical and moral health to continue defending the interests of the mother country," the Cardinal said, adding that they are professionals since their training centers have the category of universities.